With Enzo Fernández donning the captain armband, the men led by Enzo Maresca tried their utmost to impose their playing style on Inter Milan from kickoff. Since the visitors were not very interested in eager possession battles in final preseason match, that was easily done by the Blues.
Counterattacks trying to exploit Chelsea’s high lines, as well as the combined speed and strength of Joaquín Correa and Marcus Thuram upfront, were still an issue. But it was the Blues who got closest to score in one of their few successful endeavours into the opposition’s box, with Marc Guiu’s shot saved by goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
After Guiu’s shot, things got back to what has been quite common in this preseason. Chelsea had most of the ball, but the opposition were the ones showing real “teeth” in attack. Midfield control was rather hard to come by, with all spaces left open on the pitch.
Since Inter were making our “ground” game a bit difficult, why not resort to crosses? Some good ones were provided by Gusto on the right flank, and Marc Cucurella nearly scored via one of them.
Right after the water break, with Enzo the coach giving a lot of instructions to Enzo the captain, Inter opened the score. Another collection of missed tackles in midfield and defence out of a quick transition from the centre of the pitch, and Thuram expertly finished Correa’s assist for their first goal today.
The Blues wanted a quick response. Guiu was hard working at that, trying to get ahead of crosses and corner kicks, and almost stealing the ball from Sommer in a back pass. He also nearly sent a Cucurella stray shot into the back of the net, forcing the opposition’s shot-stopper into a superb parry.
Tried as they might, with Noni Madueke also providing some much needed intent to our attacking forays, Inter held firm at the back and Chelsea couldn’t find the tying goal in the first half. Would the second half fare any better?
Again, Chelsea dominated possession in most areas of the pitch. But Inter were just looking better in front of the goal in the first minutes after the break. Seven minutes into the second half, they nearly scored a second goal via Federico Dimarco with the shot ultimately saved by Robert Sánchez between our posts.
Soon a marvellous response almost came by. Gusto approached the edge of the box from the right and centred the ball. It went high in the air and Christopher Nkunku saw the opportunity to finish it with a bicycle kick. Unfortunately Sommer’s reflexes were good enough to save the chance.
With Palmer’s contribution, Chelsea’s play upfront became much better than in the first half. Good chances were created, but there was always something lacking to make it past Sommer and into the back of the net.
That until Lesley Ugochukwu got the opener in a true poacher effort from a free kick quite close to the box. At least we don’t get out of the Bridge empty handed!
